My Mission to Children

       Jesus loves the little children

       All the little children of the world

      Red and yellow, black and white

    All are precious in His sight.

     Introduction:     I am writing this blog as a requirement for a current class. I will be volunteering at the Torreon Mission and will be placing posts here.

     I will be tutoring students in Spelling, Science, Math, and English. For a lot of the students there, English is their second language and they need special help in it. I will be helping third to sixth grade students practice reading. I will be organizing after school activities for a small group of students once a week. I will also fulfill any needs that might arise during my time there, such as supervising on field trips and presiding over the class room in the absence of the regular supervisor. 

     The Torreon Navajo Mission's vision is to save the souls of the Navajo people by teaching, serving, and ministering to them. A majority of the Navajo people live in poverty, and most of the children are living in broken homes. The school's mission statement is contained in the verse Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

     Parents, and especially fathers, in our current world are not fulfilling their God given responsibilities. They are not being the examples, mentors, and leaders God calls them to be. In recent studies it has been proven that the average working parent spends 30 seconds a week of face to face time. 25% percent of American children are growing up in homes headed by a single mother. These children are lacking a male role model. It is a proven fact that children without a male role have lower grades, higher rates of drugs, alcohol, and suicides, and more behavior and emotional problems. I hope to help change this. I want to be an example to many children.

Touching Notes

     After a Wednesday of assisting in the school I was playing games with a couple of the boys that were in the 2nd grade. After a couple hours that consisted of several activities, such as Jenga, rollerblading, and a hike, I was preparing a supper for the boys before church that night. The boys were playing out in the assembly room when one of them came and asked me if they could have a piece of paper and some pencils. I automatically thought they wanted to draw a picture. Anyway I got them the paper and pencils and went back to work on supper. After a couple of minutes these slid under the door.

     The top note is from a boy that has had many demonic influences on his life. He is growing up in a home that is tearing apart at the seems. Yet this young boy still has the mission and the staff as positive influences. The staff, and the Lord they serve, have helped him not let the evil overcome him. This young student is known for the humor he bestows on others. (Often without even trying to.) He is also known to love the song "Jesus Loves Me." His life has been touched dramatically by the mission. Hopefully in the future he will come to know Jesus as his personal Savior. God willing, the evil around him will not overcome him. The staff have had a tremendous influence on this young boy. God is touching his life.

     The second note is from a boy with over six siblings, four of which go to the school at the mission. This boy lives in a very dark area of Torreon. His family is associated with a cult that often tries to connect with the spirit world. Yet he is coming to a Christian school and is watching the lives of committed Christians as they interact with his people. Recently he has begun to come to church quite regularly. He is learning right from wrong. The staff have been a great example for him. He is growing. God is touching his life.

     These are only two of the many many examples of lives that have been touched by the mission. When I got these notes I realized that the torch has been passed. There is a new generation of Navajos to serve and there is a new generation of staff to undertake that service. In the future I hope to influence the next generation of Navajos.